Frontier towns started near major trails and stagecoach lines. The government decided that 320 acres of dedicated township land was enough to establish a town; to attain this number, speculators and businessmen bought up acres and convinced settlers to buy in as well. More salesmanship was required to attract the various businesses required for a town - saloon, hotel, general store, livery stable - usually in the form of free real estate. Despite this, there was a "boom or bust" quality to many towns on the frontier. If a stagecoach line altered or the railroad diverted travelers, businesses and residents might leave a town as quickly as they came to follow the traffic.

The hotel or inn was an important rest stop for travelers and a place to discuss politics, share stories, or simply gather to eat. Guest rooms were small and had their share of problems, including only...